Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money that would be required for the purchase of an additional 600 vehicles for the Garda fleet in 2014. [41708/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, Garda vehicles are required for a wide variety of policing requirements and, accordingly, the Garda fleet comprises different models of vehicles produced by a number manufacturers. In the circumstances I understand that it would not be practicable to provide a precise figure for the purpose referred to by the Deputy.

Overall, the Deputy will be aware that an additional €3 million was made available towards the end of last year which enabled the Force to procure 171 vehicles. This brought total investment in the Garda fleet in 2012 to €4 million and resulted in a total of 213 new vehicles being procured during the year. Furthermore, a specific allocation of €5 million has been provided for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in the current year.

This represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited. It is a clear indication of my commitment to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, An Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to deliver an effective and efficient policing service. In keeping with that approach, I will continue to seek to identify the potential for additional funding for the Garda Fleet. This will, of course, be contingent on expenditure in other areas.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form a district breakdown of Garda vehicles numbers in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013. [41709/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In turn, the deployment of Garda vehicles is kept under on-going review by the Garda authorities and revised in response to policing demands.

This flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles, so as to best match the allocation of resources with priorities, is crucial to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not practicable to provide these figures at District level for the years requested.

In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of Garda vehicles by Division in 2007, 2008, 2009 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 is set out in the following table. It should also be noted that there have been a number of Divisional boundaries realignments over the period concerned.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form a district breakdown of the expected numbers of Garda vehicles to be taken off the road by end of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41710/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In turn, the deployment of Garda vehicles is kept under on-going review by the Garda authorities and revised in response to policing demands.

This flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles, so as to best match the allocation of resources with priorities, is crucial to the efficient management of the Garda fleet. As a consequence, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not practicable to provide details of the number of vehicles to be decommissioned by the end of 2014 by Garda District.

Garda vehicles are retired for a variety of reasons, including where vehicles are considered beyond economic repair or as a result of accidents. Also, I understand from the Garda authorities that the relevant manufacturers have indicated that, for safety reasons, vehicles should be withdrawn from service at certain stages. Accordingly, this is the operational policy that is applied by the Garda authorities. Based on current usage, it is estimated that approximately 456 Garda vehicles may be retired between now and the end of the 2014.

Overall, the Deputy will be aware that an additional €3 million was made available towards the end of last year which enabled the Force to procure 171 vehicles. This brought total investment in the Garda fleet in 2012 to €4 million and resulted in a total of 213 new vehicles being procured during the year. Furthermore, a specific allocation of €5 million has been provided for the purchase and fit-out of Garda transport in the current year.

This represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited. It is a clear indication of my commitment to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, An Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to deliver an effective and efficient policing service. In keeping with that approach, I will continue to seek to identify the potential for additional funding for the Garda Fleet. This will, of course, be contingent on expenditure in other areas.